"... You are likely to have great trouble. I wish you well through it.
You have shown your abilities in fighting; you have now an opportunity
of showing the other necessary part in the character of a great chief,
your abilities in policy."
Before this letter was received, however, matters had risen to a
climax, which resulted in the ejection of Jones and the assumption of
the command by Landais. Immediately he arrived at L'Orient, Jones
hastened to get ready for leaving. The Ariel, a small ship of twenty
guns, had been loaned by the French Government to carry such supplies
as could not be taken on the Alliance. Several American vessels with
valuable cargoes were awaiting his departure also, to sail under his
convoy.
Jones had gone on board the Alliance as usual, as his duty demanded,
and had been received respectfully and his orders promptly obeyed. On
the morning of the 13th of June, being now for the first time informed
of the mutinous action of the crew and the letters to Franklin, he
mustered the crew and caused his commission and Franklin's first order
to him to take command of the ship in the Texel, and his last one, to
carry her to Philadelphia, to be read to the men. He then addressed
the seamen, pointing out to them the obligations they had assumed, the
consequences of a refusal to obey him on their part, and urged them to
a faithful performance of their duty. He asked them, if any one had
any complaints to make against him, that they be made now. No reply
was made to this address, and no complaints were brought forward. The
men were then dismissed to their stations.
Shortly after this incident Jones went ashore. Landais was advised of
the whole situation immediately, and sent a letter to Degges, the
first lieutenant, ordering him to assume the command of the ship and
retain it in the face of Jones or any one else until Landais should
receive an answer to his demand to Franklin to be replaced in the
command of the Alliance. When he received this order, Landais stated
that he would at once come on board and take over the ship. Degges
mustered the crew again and read this letter. The adroit suggestions
of Mr. Lee and the insinuations as to Jones' alleged betrayal of their
interests by making off with the prize money had so worked on the
feelings of the men that they at once declared for Landais, who, on
being notified, promptly repaired to the ship and formally assumed
command.
Dale and the officers of the Richard on the Alliance, who had not been
aware of these last proceedings, for they had been adroitly timed for
their dinner hour when they were below, were apprised of Landais'
arrival by the cheering on deck. They protested against his assuming
command, and were all sent ashore without ceremony. Mr. Lee seems to
have suggested and approved of the action of Landais; indeed, without
his sanction the latter would never have dared to take command of the
ship.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account